Gulf of Guinea & Indian Ocean pirate activity highlights persistent regional threats

Another general cargo ship was boarded on 7 November west of Bata, Equatorial Guinea, following a series of similar incidents reported in the Western Indian Ocean and off the coast of Somalia.

An advisory received from a maritime information center reported that a general cargo ship was boarded on 7 November, approximately 75 nautical miles west of Bata, Equatorial Guinea. As explained, the vessel was underway from Houston, United States, to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, with an estimated freeboard of 4.25 meters at the time of the incident.

The crew gathered in the citadel in accordance with security procedures. According to UKMTO, coalition forces later boarded the vessel and the crew safely exited the citadel, all reported as safe and unharmed.

Recommendations:

Primary shipboard safety measures: 

Keep well clear of the reported area, preserve CPA to unidentified or fast craft at ≥2.0 nm where practicable, secure external access points, rig barriers and hoses, double bridge and deck patrols in accordance with BMP MS 2025.

Reporting requirements and channels:

Report immediately to MDAT-GoG and the local maritime authorities with bearings, ranges, photos or video, and radar/AIS plots, maintain rolling updates until clear. Preserve CCTV and logbook evidence, and broadcast safety information on VHF as needed.

Additional security measures and drills:

Conduct security musters, verify citadel readiness, lock and control access to accommodation and machinery spaces, brief crew on emergency communications and lockdown procedures aligned to BMP MS 2025.

Communications and coordination guidance: 

Maintain continuous monitoring on distress and safety channels and VHF, ensure satcom redundancy, coordinate with Ghana Navy and port authority units if tasked, and deconflict with nearby traffic while sustaining safe CPA from unidentified craft.

General guidance:

Avoid unnecessary loitering near anchorage limits at night, use targeted lighting to deny hidden approaches without impairing navigational safety, and review insurance and charterer notification requirements given the evolving situation.

Earlier the same day, UKMTO reported another incident involving suspicious activity southeast of Eyl, Somalia, where a small craft carrying three persons approached a merchant vessel. The vessel’s Master reported successfully outrunning the small craft, which subsequently returned to its suspected mothership, identified as ISSA MOHHAMDI.

HELLAS APHRODITE incident update

Operation ATALANTA confirmed that on the afternoon of 7 November 2025, forces successfully liberated the merchant tanker HELLAS APHRODITE, which had been boarded by a Pirate Action Group (PAG). The crew of 24 remained in the citadel throughout the incident, maintaining direct communication with ATALANTA, and were all confirmed safe with no injuries reported.

The attack on HELLAS APHRODITE occurred on the morning of 6 November, approximately 700 nautical miles from Mogadishu. Following the alert, ATALANTA immediately deployed surface and air assets, including the flagship ESPS VICTORIA with its organic helicopter, Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, and a Special Operations Team, which together led the successful recovery of the vessel.

After an initial show of force, the PAG abandoned the merchant tanker. Data and evidence are now being gathered to support the legal prosecution of the suspected pirates, should they be captured.

ATALANTA, in cooperation with maritime security partners in the region, continues an intensive search for the PAG believed to remain active in the area.

The threat assessment in the area surrounding the incident remains critical. The mother ship and the pirates remain in the area. A coordinated joint operation is ongoing to intercept the dhow used in this attack.

The operation also involved coordination with Puntland authorities, Combined Maritime Forces, a Japanese P-3C aircraft, Seychelles Maritime Reconnaissance Patrol Aircraft and the Spanish Joint Operations Command. Throughout the operation, continuous communication was maintained with the vessel’s flag state, company owner and crew members via ATALANTA Headquarters.

MSCIO recommendations:

• Vessels are requested to remain vigilant and to adhere to BMP Maritime Security when transiting the Western Indian Ocean and the Somali waters. While these waters are routinely patrolled by CMF, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and other warships, the timely and comprehensive reporting of incidents and suspicious activity remains crucial to allow for a rapid incident response.
• MSCIO requests that, where possible, and without endangering the vessel or crew, vessels obtain and report as much factual details as possible of incidents and suspicious activity to include logs, photographs, video, and radar footage. Company security officers (CSO’s) and masters are strongly recommended to register their vessels with MSCIO when entering the Voluntary Reporting Area and to report any incidents to UKMTO in accordance with BMP Maritime Security. This will enable a more rapid response to incidents and allow CMF and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA to monitor activity, enabling the most effective allocation of resources.
• CSOs are recommended to gather information on known Pattern of Life and Maritime Domain Awareness along the intended route and ports of call when conducting risk assessments for their fleets.
• source : safety4sea.